Istanbul is the magical converging point of East and West. It is one of those cities which will leave you fascinated regardless of the number of times you visit.
Although every city claims to be unique, Istanbul is truly one-of-a-kind. It is the only city in the world that spans two continents, Europe and Asia.&nbsp;
The city sprawls over seven hills with the might Bosphorus river splitting it.&nbsp;
It is among the few cities where you will find tattooed and pierced hipsters walking beside Muslim women wearing hijabs.
Visiting the city is like travelling through time. It is only in Istanbul, where you will find a sophisticated restaurant next to a traditional teashop and a spice market.
 
Most people I've met, including friends and tourists, respect this cosmopolitan city for its breathtaking sites, such as the Topkapi Palace, Aya Sophia,&nbsp;Galata Tower, Ortakoy&nbsp;Mosque, and the ancient Hippodrome.
However, to really experiance the city you should go off the beaten path. There is a lot of less-known yet attractive places you should visit in Istanbul.&nbsp;
 
 
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 <img src="https://static.locktrip.com/media/library/images/722_Zmv4u_1641048895_32_-_Galata_Tower_and_the_street_in_the_Old_Town_of_Istanbul_Turkey.jpg" style="width: 500px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" id="Zmv4u">Galata Tower and the street in the Old Town of Istanbul, Turkey&nbsp;
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 <img src="https://static.locktrip.com/media/library/images/722_Bw5jn_1641048922_32_-_Ortakoy_Istanbul_landscape_beautiful_sunrise_with_clouds_Ortakoy_Mosque_and_Bosphorus_Bridge_Istanbul_Turkey.jpg" style="width: 500px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" id="Bw5jn">Ortakoy Istanbul landscape beautiful sunrise with clouds Ortakoy Mosque and Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul Turkey
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To experience what the city offers, I planned a three-day trip to explore it.
Although the three days were not enough to get the full experience, they gave me enough time to get a good overview of the city.
I will highlight some of the classic sights I visited as well as the off the beaten places and things I did during my trip to help you make most of your visit.
 
<h1 style="text-align: center;">I stayed in this awsome hotel in the heart of Istanbul!</h1>
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proxima-nova, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; color: rgb(25, 25, 25); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); float: none; display: inline !important;">(<em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: proxima-nova, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; color: rgb(25, 25, 25); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Hint: using <a href="https://locktrip.com/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(72, 139, 248); text-decoration: none;">Locktrip.com</a> and discount code G9LGN gets you 6% off on your first booking)<span style="color: rgb(72, 139, 248); font-family: proxima-nova, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">&nbsp;&nbsp;
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<iframe scrolling="no" class="iframeHeightControl" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="yes" style="width:100%;display:block;border:none;" src="/individual-hotel/5f4825b98fdf0317928c1b4b/turkey/istanbul/5979409" title="Hotels"></iframe>Located in a 139-year old historical building, Hotel Miniature - Ottoman Mansion is just 701 m from Hagia Sophia, and 801 m from Blue Mosque.
Tastefully decorated, the rooms of Hotel Miniature - Ottoman Mansion feature original brick walls and high ceiling. &nbsp;
 
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Day 1: Must-see, first!</h1>
I spent my first day in Istanbul visiting some of the classic sights. I visited the Sultanahmet area, which has several historical views that showcase the city’s glorious past.
My first stop was at the iconic Blue Mosque, one of the must-see attractions in Istanbul.
It was built between 1609 and 1616. If you are a non-Muslim, you visit when no prayers are going on.
I then took a walk around Sultanahmet Square and later in the day visited the Basilica Cistern, which is a vast, underground water cistern.
 
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 <img src="https://static.locktrip.com/media/library/images/722_NMayB_1641027694_34_-_Blue_Mosque_Sultanahmet_Camii_Bosporus_and_asian_side_skyline_Istanbul_Turkey.jpg" style="width: 500px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" id="NMayB">Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), Bosporus and asian side skyline, Istanbul, Turkey
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">Day 2: Meet the locals</h1>
After a long day visiting some of the top attractions in the Sultanahmet area, I decided to get beyond the beaten path and try some of the less known places in the city.&nbsp;
 
My first stop was at the Belgrad Forest. Sitting on 5,500 hectares, the Belgrad Forest is a place I would want to visit any time I'm in Turkey.&nbsp;
The forest is so big and natural that I even forgot I was still in Istanbul.&nbsp;
The Serbian name comes from the Serbs who protected its water reservoirs during the reign of Sultan Suleyman.&nbsp;
I quenched my thirst from the springs after wandering for hours amongst a huge variety of indigenous trees.
 
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 <img src="https://static.locktrip.com/media/library/images/722_gytb3_1641029121_32_-_Autumn._Old_Barrage_in_Belgrad_Forest_Istanbul_Turkey.jpg" style="width: 500px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" id="gytb3">Old Barrage in Belgrad Forest, Istanbul, Turkey &nbsp;
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Smoking nargile in Fenerbahçe. This is not the healthiest activity ever but I tried it just to have a very traditional Turkish experience.
It was also a perfect way to see where locals hang out and socialize with them.&nbsp;
In the evening, I went to Çamlıca Hill for a sunset panoramic view and a Turkish dinner.
 
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Day 3: Indulge yourself</h1>
This was my final day in Istanbul, and I wanted it to be fascinating.&nbsp;
 
My first stop was at the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world.It is big and overwhelming, with 61 streets and more than 4000 stalls.
I had a great experience in the market. I bought a few gifts for my parents, made few friends, and tasted the Turkish culture in this market.
 
Since Istanbul is the meeting point of Europe and Asia, you can find both continents’ traces here.&nbsp;
The grandeur of ancient Roman civilization and a pinch of Middle East flair merge with the influences of Christianity and Islam.&nbsp;
This gives you a reason to visit the city. If you want to experience the history and the culture entirely, I suggest that you get off the beaten path, and your trip will be epic.&nbsp;
Again, the city is full of activities that might make you want to extend your stay.&nbsp;
 
One of the activities that I really enjoyed was taking a 3-hour Turkish cooking class! If you think I am joking, I invite you to a Turkish culinary competition.
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 <img src="https://static.locktrip.com/media/library/images/722_CgaJY_1641048584_33_-_Traditional_assorted_turkish_dishes._Turkish_pizza_meat_kebab_pita_bulgur_fried_meatballs_hummus_and_turkish_meze_set.jpg" style="width: 500px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" id="CgaJY">Traditional assorted turkish dishes. Turkish pizza, meat kebab, pita, bulgur, fried meatballs, hummus and turkish meze set&nbsp;
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Turkey’s culture is closely tied to its cuisine, and locals organize cooking classes often to teach visitors the Turkish cooking.&nbsp;
For people who like cooking, taking a cooking class when visiting a new country could be fascinating.&nbsp;
I love food, and this was one of the best things I could do in Istanbul. You will learn about recipes and ingredients and how to mix them.
 
Although Turkish cuisine has complexities you won't learn in a day as a visitor, there are simple dishes you can recreate at home.
There are many classes to choose from, and I went for the simple dish class in order to gain most out of it.
In this class, I not only learned, but I also left the country with a souvenir that keeps on giving, which is a recipe and the knowhow to recreate it at home.&nbsp;
 
I needed to rest for my flight later in the evening. So, I went to a hamam, a traditional Turkish bathhouse which has a sauna, a scrub and also a massage.
To experience the best out of it, I went to one in less touristy areas. It was cheap, and I enjoyed their service.
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That is how I spent my three days in Istanbul.&nbsp;
I had a great experience, and I will definitely plan another trip to the city because, as I said, you can never experience everything in it in three days.&nbsp;
 
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